Back-band.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1908;

M. HOLTS.

BACK BAND. 7

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1908.

(1mm q MACK HOLTS, or DAYTON, oHIo.

BACK-B AND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filed March 26, 1908. Serial No. 423,380.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MACK HoLTs, citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in

the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Back-Bands and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de-' scription of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the-accompanying drawings, and

to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 7

This invention relates to certain specific improvements in back bands for draft animals.

Back bands are well known to be an element of the harness and are designed to protect the spine of the animal while drawing a load.

The object of the present invention is to provide a back band, the weight of which h reduced to a minimum, and through the construction of which the s inal column of the animal is always relieve from any pressure.

A further object is to provide a special flexible connection, in the form of a swivel, between the upper ends of the two members of the back band, which will readily yield under the movements of the animal, so that there may be no binding effect exerted upon the animal. Another special feature of the improvements, comprises the manner of providing the lower ends of the back band with a suitable number of hooks in which the traces are supported. The hooks are stamped from a suitable thickness of sheet metal and are made to embrace the side edges of the back band as wellas the lower edges, and by reason of their construction, they have a maximum durability without adding any excess of weight to the back band.

plan view.' Fig. 4, is an In the drawings-Figure 1, is an elevation of the back band hav' my improvements applied thereto. The dotted lines in this figure represent the body of the animal u on which the back band is placed. Fig. 2, IS a side view of the back band. Fig. 3, is a top enlarged cross section of one side of the back band immediately a detail view of the inner side of the lower end of one side of the back band.

above the uppermost hook. Fig. 5, is'

In a detailed description of the invention, similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

The two members 1 1 of the back band are preferably constructed of a suitable quality of wood and are shaped as near as possible to conform to the curvature of the animals back. The upper ends of the two members of the back band extend upwardly a suitable distance above the back of the animal and are given a suitable outward curvature. The dotted lines in Fig. 1, represent the lines of the animals body, and it will be observed that there is a very substantial space immediately above the uppermost portion of said dotted lines that is entirely free from any contact with the back band. The upper ends of the members of the back band are flexibly connected by means of a strap 3 on one side which is rigidly secured to that member of the back band, and passes through a slot therein, and a strap 4 on the other side which passes through a slot in that side of the back band and is secured through means of a buckle 5. The ends of the straps 3 and 4 lyin between the two members of the back ban are connected together by means of a double-headed. pin 7 which passes through twowashers 6 and'through the ends of the straps, thus making a swivel connection between the two membersof the back band which permits of an easy yielding of the back band without any binding eflect upon the animal. This flexible connection between the two. members of the back band may be adjusted for animals of different sizes or weight by means of the buckle 5. The usual guide rings 2 are attached to the back band for the lines to pass through, and the lower ends of the members of the back band are provided with a suitable number of hooks 9 in which the spaces are guided and supported. These hooks 9 are an integral part with a plate of sheet metal from which they are. stamped. The portion 8 of said plate is reduced in thickness and extends downwardly to the ends of the members of the back band in the form of an tongue 11 which embraces the lower end of each of the members of the back band and is turned up on the inner side and is secured by a counter-sunk screw 10. The upper end of each of the hook plates is extended laterally and is over t e side edges of the members of the overlapping rovided with two tongues which bend back band and are secured to the inner sides of said members by counter-sunk screws 10 in a manner similar to the attachment of the lower tongue 10. These hook plates thus become a rigid part of the back band and combine the requisite durable quality with a minimum weight.

I claim:

1. A back band comprising two side members with their ends extending upwardly in outward curves, a flexible connection between the said ends having an adjustable feature and comprising two straps extending inwardly through openings in the members o1 I the back band and pivotally connected between the upper ends of said members, one of 2. A back band comprising two side members suitably curved, two straps, one extending from the upper portion of each of said members, and said straps being pivotally connected so as to allow the curved members to conform freely to the animals back, and means on said curved members for supporting traces.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses. V

MACK HOLTS.

Witnesses: I

MATTHEW SIEBLER, CAROLYN M. THEOBALD. 

